Canastota wrestling beats Vernon-Verona-Sherrill

CANASTOTA -- Canastota's wrestling team opened the season with an impressive third place at Cicero-North Syracuse's tourney on Saturday. The Raiders followed it up with an equally impressive 60-21 win against Vernon-Verona-Sherrill in their first dual meet on Wednesday.

Jacob Morris' pin at 285 started the hosts on the way to victory and Ben Marshall, Connor Russ and Nate Walker also pinned before VVS could earn a win on the mat. The hosts also had impressive decisions by Mike Zupan and Joe Tiller during the run. Xavier Johnson and Zack Zupan followed with pins and Wyatt Albanese had a tech fall in the upper weights.

The Raiders' other points came via Anthony Micaroni's injury default win at 160 and Marshall Bruggeman's forfeit at 99.

VVS' first 12 points came from forfeits to Chad Compoli at 106 and Brad Calhoun at 138. Gage Patry's pin at 152 gave the Red Devils fans something to cheer about and Trevor Simzer added an 8-2 win at 170.

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But the night belonged to Canastota, especially with VVS depleted by injury and sickness.

"That's no reason," VVS coach Mark Peavey said, refusing to make excuses for the lopsided defeat. "We're better than that (effort) tonight. But they wrestled better than us."

Canastota's sharpness was obvious, and appreciated.

"They were intense," said Canastota co-coach Nick Zupan said of his wrestlers. "We've still got a ways to go, but we've been wrestling well."

The meet's closest match came at 113 where Mike Zupan edged VVS eighth grader Austin Vanderhoof, normally a 99-pounder. A great counter in the first period allowed Vanderhoof to stay even but a body lock hurt in the second then Zupan iced the win with a tilt for back points midway in the third period.

Micaroni's win at 160 came with him ahead just 2-0 against Simon Breckenridge. The VVS wrestler was trying to get back points when he was injured and couldn't finish.